December is highly regarded as the festive season month globally as it is well known for welcoming Christmas for many and other practices like cultural and religious holidays.

These practices include honoring American and African heritage, commemorating an apparition of Virgin Mary, celebrating Buddha among others.

Here are examples of celebrated holidays:

• St. Nicholas Day

It is mainly celebrated on 5th or 6th of December by the christians who have the originality of Saint Nicholas to honor his birthday.

It is also called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, he inspiration behind Santa Claus, given his proclivity towards gift-giving.

•   Conception Immaculate Day

This day is special for Catholics as they commemorate the Virgin Mary.

It happens on the 8th day of December, and through it believers believe that they are born again without original sin.

Catholics go to church to celebrate and feast.

• Bodhi Day

This is the day Buddha have achieved enlightnment and Buddhist honors it through their traditional practices.

It is also know as Rohtsu and Buddhists celebrate it on December 8, through meditation.

• Feast Day of Our Lady Guadalupe

It usually happens on December 12, where Mexicans celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, known patron saint of Mexico.

This honor symbolizes patriotism and devotion among the Mexicans.

On this day, millions of pilgrims typically visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Mexico has the abundant Virgin Mary’s face in in homes, shops and shrines.

• Jamhuri Day

On December 12, Kenya celebrates independence they gained in 1963-64.

Also Read: 10 Festive Related Books and Novels to Read in December

• Hanukkah

This is the eight-day Jewish holiday that starts from December 18 to December 26.

Hanukkah holiday entails lighting of a nine-branch menorah each night during the central part of the Jewish Festival of Lights.

The 9th candle is used to light the others.

This ritual symbolizes how one day’s worth of oil miraculously lasted for eight days during a battle between a small group of Jewish people and the powerful Greek-Syrian army in 165 B.C.

According to Jewish tradition, after this process, they believe to have emerged victorious and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

However, customary foods like potato pancakes, jam-filled donuts, and brisket are served. Additionally, children will play with a spinning top with Hebrew letters.

• Yule

The Wiccans and Neo-Pagans join together to celebrate the winter solstice, which is also referred to as the darkest day of the year, from December 21 to January 1 through the Yule festival.

The shortest day and longest night of the year is marked by the winter solstice.

In this context, Yule celebrates the rebirth of the sun and therefore days begin to grow longer again.

Yule first festival celebrations happened in Scandinavia as a Norse festival.

Yule long is burnt in a common traditional way to celebrate the return of the sun.

• Christmas Day

Globally, Christians come out in large numbers to celebrate Christmas as a way of commemorating the birth of Jesus.

A secular family has adopted this festival as a family, friends meet and exchange gifts as well as excitement for the arrival of Santa Claus.

It is celebrated on December 25.

• Boxing Day

Boxing Day comes immediately after Christmas Day on December 26.

It is a British tradition adopted in the 1880s when Queen Victoria ruled the throne.

During that time, it was a day to ensure that upper-class Britons gave servants a day off to relax and some presents.

In recent days, it’s a day of commercial occasion for gift-giving.

Also Read: How to Enjoy the Festive Season Without Spending Much Money

• Kwanzaa

The week-long holiday of Kwanzaa honors African-American heritage; it’s a cultural holiday as opposed to a religious one.

It takes place between December 26 and January 1.

It was first created in 1966 by black nationalist Maulana Karenga with the aim of uniting the African and American community after the Watts Rebellion in a predominantly Black Los Angeles neighborhood.

The fight against racism arose after a white California police officer arrested a young black man for drunken driving.

Rebellion led to 34 deaths, mostly as a result of Police shots, and 1,000 injuries.

After this incident, Karenga laid out seven key principles for Kwanzaa: unity; self-determination; collective responsibility; cooperative economics; purpose; creativity; and faith. Its name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” (first fruits).

Kwanzaa celebrations are spiced with African musical and storytelling traditions.

• Zarathosht Diso

It is normally celebrated on December 26 and was first founded by Prophet Zoroaster.

It is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world.

Believers of Zoroastrians honor the death of the founder on this day by visiting a fire temple and offering prayers.

• New Year’s Eve

It is celebrated on December 31st around the world to welcome the new year.

Parties, fireworks, among others set resolutions and countdown to midnight to welcome the new beginnings and end the year in style.

In many post-Soviet countries, the holiday is celebrated with traditions similar to Christmas, such as the arrival of gifts from “Grandfather Frost.”

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December fireworks for illustration purposes. PHOTO/Getty images